Thread by @casualgrace

New season (mostly) same chaotic commentary at our new posting time of Monday night.

I want to thank everyone that's been waiting for understanding, with work it's just a bit too hectic to try and knock out a recap by Saturday.

#StarTrekDiscovery S4EP02 Anomaly.
#DemTreks

Let's Begin!
The title is fitting considering how many times I typed 'anomaly' last week. We start as usual with the recap blitz. If you missed last week feel free to peruse the previous thread here.
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https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1462396693836705793?t=6Z2CUeqes38AHK-ZDW_fAw&s=19

First, can we appreciate that the #StarTrekDiscovery tag has a Captain's Chair next to it?

I don't know how long it will last but I love it.

We open with stutters and flashes of Booker analyzing the data from just before the anomaly destroyed Kwejian. It doesn't take a genius to recognize the grief, trauma and PTSD on Booker's face.
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Micheal interrupts the repetition but Booker looks like a zombie. SMG is doing a lot very subtly here. You can feel the worry, fear, and helplessness in her voice and expressions.
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When Michael leaves she heads to greet Saru. Who has finally returned to Discovery from Kaminar. He greets her as "Captain". A quick glance at his uniform shows that they share the rank. Although technically Saru is without a ship.
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Saru offers some sage advice about councelling someone through grief. It's coming from the right person. Considering the role Saru has been in on Kaminar over the last 5 months.
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Saru points out that Michael may be showing a similar Trauma response. Then we get the breakdown of the meaning of and behind Saru's new fancy pin that I've been waiting on.
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https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1462408608386273281?t=ZFpwC0tFgKKsSbm_Mm7Urw&s=19

It the Kelpian symbol for community and service. It marks Saru's status as a council member in his village.
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We learn that Saru was offered the USS Sojourner.But he declines in favour of ASKING to be Michael's Number 1. The moment is really sweet. #StarTrekDiscovery
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I'm happy because we get to keep Saru on the show, but I would have liked to see him continue to advance his career as Captain away from Discovery.
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We jump to a meeting of the heads of Starfleet, The Federation, and multiple Alien worlds. Stamets and Tilly are briefing everyone about the anomaly. None of the information is good. The anomaly is huge, barely trackable, and confusing as hell.
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Vulcan Mon Mothma is in attendance and even though they aren't Federation members yet they offer the Ni'Var Science institute to help analyze the data.
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I assume that she and Saru chat and 'flirt' briefly behind the scenes because reasons.

https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1332418055335514113?t=wveUPRZq_qbhUqhXGwtjEw&s=19

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We get some classic exposition strolling with Tilly and Saru. This brings the triumphant return of the Saru walk. How I've missed those flowy arms.
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Saru seems 'taller' and this is a very cute way to note that Saru has changed a lot during his time on Kaminar. This little step that Mary Wise does as she says 'swagger' is very cute. Yes we all missed Saru.
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This shot here of @may_wise. Her hair and skin with her eyes and the multiple shades of blue. It's doing something.

Maybe I'm biased because blue is my favourite color. But it's doing SOMETHING.
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Saru and Tilly enter the Bridge and the question of what to call Saru since but he and Micheal have the same rank is put to rest before debate can even start. He's 'Mr. Saru' now. Much like Mr. Tuvok and Mr. Spock before him. I'm into it.
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Quick shot of Bryce at coms, just to let everyone know that he's here and no longer on The Curry.
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A Ship-wide channel is open and Michael is giving one of those great speeches that Captains have to give in the face of great and unknown danger. Great closeups of most of the crew.
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I realise that we're almost completly throught every shot we saw in the promo trailers. So next week or the week after we'll start to be truly surprised by the visuals.
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We're still not meeting our Reno, Pollard, and Linus quota and I'm not too happy about it. Everyone we do see looks great though.

As does this VFX shot of Discovery jumping to the anomaly.
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Once we arrive Burnham asks to see the anomaly on screen. It doesn't look like much because it's not visible to the naked eye. But once a polarizing spectrographic filter is applied, we get the scale of anomaly.
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The music gets very grand and boomy but honestly, it's not at all what I was expecting to be looking at.
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This is where we slip the opening credits in. If only to remind me what we saw onscreen is actually what's being depicted in the opening credits: Discovery following the anomaly.
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https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1462396701780627464?t=qhkmmnH6aDCHEbGjrFVVeA&s=19

Back on the bridge Stamets is doing his best Alice in Wonderland observation because it's not what he was expecting either. Nothing, including the readings it's putting out are expected.
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Yeah we are all very confused.
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It's here that I figure that the anomaly is largely unpredictable which will make this season that much more difficult. But we're going to finish the recap anyway because other things need to happen in this episode before we all reach that conclusion.
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And because nothing can ever be easy we need to be closer to get scans. Detmer points out Discovery is large and would be at risk. Nilsson points out DOTs are too small and would be crushed.
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Someone took the time to style the edges of the wig this week. It's not spectacular, but it is an improvement over last weeks showing.
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Booker volunteers his ship and makes as strong case for why it should work. Book asks to speak with Michael in private after she assigns Detmer for the mission.
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Michael as Captain & everyone with eyes knows that Booker is too traumatized for the mission. But we also know he's the best person to do it. Nevermind the parallels between this Rillak giving pushback about Michael flying the worker bee last week. 🙃
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In the end Booker says straight up that he doesn't need permission. He's right.
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In sickbay Gray is looking over the aesthetics of his new android body.
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If you've been following along with Hugh's official logs you know that he's been using Soong research and methodology in order to get Grey a body. Discovery out here casually referencing the first season of Picard.
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https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1462420691337334784?t=HKwxm6ux2HUr1VOESPJgYg&s=19

There are layers here regarding Gray transitioning and having complete control over his future appearance. I see it.
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Saru has been called to Michaels quarters. We discover that it's possible to add a holo to your quarters (who needs a holodeck?!) We get our first glimpse of Michael's Captain's quarters.
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And we learn that the Sphere data has continued to evolve and has chosen the name Zora for HERself.

If you haven't seen the Short Trek 'Calypso' you should absolutely watch it.

I'm also tickled that these Grudge promo shots were taken here.
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Saru gives more Sage advice. I'm getting tghe feeling that this will be his role going forward. I'm not mad at it. It's what Number 1's do.
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In the spore lab, Stamets make a really inapproprate joke about being blown out an airlock. MY JAW DROPS.
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Oh, are we at the point where we can joke about this?! After this salty ass look that we never actually discussed. oh okay. OKAY!
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https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1347900614232178689?t=4eLO-eE-hKAqWUtW3s0tlA&s=19

Favorite part of the episode tbh.
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I don't know if I'm okay with the way this is being resolved. I had some cussing I wanted to do. 🤨
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Anyway. Booker is flying into the anomaly, Stamets will be there via holo (because sending both Spore drive operators on this mission is DUMB). The Tallowah will be attached to Disco via ether to boost the holo signal and for safety. Got it? good.
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We get a snippet of acknowledgement about how Booker jumped Disco to the Dilithium Planet. RickieCulber does his thing. I don't recall if we ever figured out if he or Pollard is CMO but he's absolutely Ship's Counsellor and I'm okay with that.
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Stamets awkwardly tries to make smalltalk whicle Booker is cold and standoffish. But even in the midst of PTSD Booker is a good cat dad.
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We flex the SFX budget as everyone on the bridge its thrown into the air. Once again the anomaly is doing shit is shouldn't be doing.
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Discovery is taking a beating and Booker is having a PTSD episode. Without navigation it's going to be tricky to get his ship out.
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Stamets and Booker have a heart to heart about the Spore drive. Tilly, Adira, and Bryce figure that Booker can kite surf his way out. The data absolutely depends on it.
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So Michael has a heart to heart with Booker on a private channel. The talk is just enough to pull Booker out of his PTSD episode and fly the Tallowah out.
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The writers are doing a lot with the exploration of Grief and loss; Micheal with her parents, Saru with his Planet, Paul with Hugh, The crew with Ariam, Su-Kal with his Mother, Booker with Kwejian. I'm sure there are others.
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Not to mention PTSD and Trauma; with Voq and Tyler, Hugh, Detmer, and now Booker, Tilly, and Adira.
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Previously we didn't often see the mental effects of trekking through space. I'm glad Discovery is taking the time to show that life takes a toll and that it's okay to get help. Even if asking is a little awkward.
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Second favorite part of the episode tbh.
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I would have liked a moment later on where Booker and Stamets acknowledge each other in real life.
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Booker finally opens up to Michael about what he's been seeing and going through. He cries. The flashbacks are touching and gut wrenching at the same time.
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We conclude with Tilly and Saru on the bridge. They get to the conclusion that I made 20 minutes ago. The anomaly is erratic and completely unpredictable. So EVERYONE is in danger.
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Honestly I'm genuinely curious to see how the season is going to play out. Because this anomaly seems like an impossible challenge. What is and how will they discover the Deus Ex machina in order to defeat this season's MacGuffin? I need to know!
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We exit with very ominous music and another shot of the anomaly just in case you missed what we were talking about in the credits earlier.

Previously:

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Now.

I keep telling yall the credits are important.

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That's it for #StarTrekDiscovery S4EP02 - Anomaly. As always, if you made it this far downthread you should probably follow me.
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If you like what I have to say, my friends and I discuss #StarTrek on a regular basis. You should follow @BlackAlertPod and listen to us there.
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This thread marks 1 year of me recapping Discovery here on the bird app. It's been one year since a bunch of Black Trekkies came together and decided to launch @BlackAlertPod. It's been a wild ride. Here's to many years to come.
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Once again throwing back to the thread that started me down the rabbithole into #TrekTwitter.

https://twitter.com/casualgrace/status/1332304959493332992?t=uljuWs2i6Ztzj45Igna_gQ&s=19

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To those who have been around since that first thread: thanks for sticking with me.

To those who have joined along the way: thanks for coming along. Feedback is always welcome. 🖖🏿
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